Alternatives to Food

One of my major barriers to weight loss success is my relationship with food.  Food is my go-to for just about everything--it is my coping mechanism and I use it for every emotion.  I eat when I'm upset, angry, depressed, stressed, anxious, excited and even when I'm bored.

I am working on a list of alternatives to eating for myself.  These are things I can do rather than eat.  I'm hoping by having this list that I will have plenty of options for things to do when I desperately want to eat.  I'm sure my list will grow, but I wanted to share the things I'd like to try instead of food.

• blog
• go for a walk
• go swimming
• take a hot bath
• clean
• self-talk
• play a game
• read
• get some support on a forum
• call or text a friend for support
• collage
• journal
• meditate
• say a mantra or the serenity prayer
• yoga
• color in a coloring book
• teach myself origami
• light therapy
• self-massage
• take a nap
• worry beads
• deep breathing
• accept my feelings and sit in the discomfort
• listen to music
• sing
• write a story
• write a poem
• play Rock Band
• bike (I can't do this yet, but I'm hoping after the surgery...)

That's my list!  I'm pretty happy with it :)